Platner Accused
Politico Reports New Sexual Assault Allegation Against Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner
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Key Points
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Politico’s reporting includes three exclusive interviews with the accuser conducted over the past two weeks, providing multiple first‑person accounts of the alleged 2021 incident.
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The reporting also notes that a range of documents were reviewed, including emails between the accuser and her therapist and messages warning an acquaintance about Platner years before he ran for office.
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The accuser described the encounter as forceful, with statements about physical conduct that the article relays in its account of the alleged act.
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Politico’s reporting includes accounts from another man the accuser dated, whom she confided in years after the alleged incident, offering another layer of corroboration cited by the outlet.
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Platner’s campaign responded with a denial, canceled several planned appearances, and released a video address as the allegations circulated.
A Maine woman says Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner "absolutely" raped her in late 2021, according to Politico reporting published this week. The accuser, a 41-year-old Maine resident, says Platner entered her home uninvited while intoxicated and forced himself on her despite repeated pleas to stop. Platner denies the claims, calling them "troubling, serious, and false."
The allegation has thrown a key Senate race into chaos. The Democratic Party has called for Platner to step down as its nominee, according to SCMP. Platner had won his primary earlier this year and was set to face Republican incumbent Susan Collins in November.
Accuser Described Incident Years Before Platner Ran for Office
Politico conducted three separate interviews with the accuser over two weeks. She says the alleged assault happened after a more than two-year on-and-off relationship with Platner. She cut off contact with him immediately after the incident. The outlet reviewed emails between the accuser and her therapist, as well as messages she sent warning an acquaintance about Platner — all written years before he entered politics.
A man the accuser later dated also told Politico she had confided in him about the assault. That account adds another layer of corroboration to her story. CBS News noted that the reporting draws on multiple first-person accounts and a range of documents reviewed by the outlet.
Platner Cancels Campaign Events, Releases Video Denial
After the story broke, Platner's campaign canceled several planned appearances. He released a video address to respond to the allegations directly. In it, he said no non-consensual behavior ever occurred. He called the claims false but did not dispute that he and the accuser had a prior relationship.
CNN reported that the accuser used the word "absolutely" when asked directly whether Platner raped her. Platner's campaign has not said when or whether he plans to resume his schedule.
Nazi Tattoo and Other Controversies Compounded Platner's Problems
The rape allegation is not the first controversy to hit Platner's campaign. He previously faced scrutiny over a Nazi-symbol tattoo from his time in the Marine Corps, which he later had covered up. Reports also surfaced of past online remarks and explicit messages sent to other women.
Together, these issues raised serious questions about Platner's viability as a candidate, according to CBS News. The Democratic Party's call for him to exit the race suggests the party no longer believes he can win against Collins in November.
Democrats Face Difficult Path in Maine Senate Race
Maine's Senate seat was seen as a possible pickup for Democrats before this week. Susan Collins is a well-known incumbent who has won re-election multiple times. A damaged Democratic nominee makes that path much harder. The party's call for Platner to step aside signals it may be searching for an alternative before November.
SCMP reported that the Democratic Party moved quickly once the allegations became public. It is unclear whether a replacement candidate could get on the ballot or mount a competitive race in the time remaining before the election.
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